title: Restricting extensions to permitted licensing hours does not influence the numbers of alcohol or assault related attendances at an inner city accident and emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of restricting extensions to permitted licensing hours on the numbers of alcohol or assault related attendances at an inner city accident and emergency (A&E) department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective data collection on consecutive attendances between 17.00 and 09.00 h during three study periods: two weeks before the introduction of the restriction, two weeks immediately afterwards, and for a two week period beginning five weeks after the change. Blood alcohol concentration was measured with a pocket alcohol meter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 56.5% of patients (n = 2836) provided a breath sample, and 28.9% (819) were positive. The proportion of patients testing positively peaked between 02.00 and 04.00 h. A very high proportion of assault cases who were tested (260) were positive (67.3%). Assault cases comprised 19.1% of all attendances between 24.00 and 04.00 h. No significant changes in the pattern of alcohol or assault related attendances followed the restriction in extensions to permitted licensing hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A policy of uniform closing times of licensed premises does not influence the profile of alcohol or assault related attendances at an inner city A&E department.
authors.affiliation: Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust, UK.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Steedman
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001944:Breath Tests; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*